End of an Era: Worthington family sells its last car dealership

[@Sarasdad91]

I was a security guard for Worthington Ford in Long Beach back in 1981. I saw Cal a couple of times pull in driving a ,6 or 7 year old car, never tried to show off, never wanted any fanfare. He always smiled with a wave. He was really like he was on the commercials.

[@Yappinbear]

Stayed up watching Cal Worthington commericals. Los Angeles, channel 5 Movies til Dawn back in the day

[@hipsville]

KABC used to show them all night as well only they would boost the audio really loud so if you had fallen asleep during the movie, you'd sure wake up for the commercial! Loved Movies til' Dawn on ktla 5. I spent my summers as a young teen up all night catching up on the classics.

[@hoodmistressreloaded]

That was my childhood in a nutshell, Worthington Ford commercials and Movies 'Til Dawn on KTLA

[@pearljohnson4365]

Gonna miss seeing Worthington Ford. It should stay as a Historical Site here in Long Beach, California.

[@rockyracoon3233]

I remember when it was Worthington Dodge.

[@JamesWoods-yu2kf]

@@rockyracoon3233when was it ever a dodge dealership? My grandmothers home was right off Bellflower and Willow and I was born in the late 60's and it was always a Ford dealership.. He did have a Dodge dealership up north but that was the only one in Long Beach and was always Ford..

[@rockyracoon3233]

@JamesWoods-yu2kf . Sorry, but im old enough to remember the commercials of him saying Worthington Dodge in Long Beach from 1969/70.

[@outlawbillionairez9780]

Cal inspired many cartoon and comedy characters for decades. The butt of jokes, yet what he did worked.

[@sheilabundgus6507]

So cool‼️

[@randoir1863]

It's truly the end of an era. I live in BC Canada, and even I know his commercials from the Seattle stations that aired them . 92 when he died , damn he must've had fun doing it .

[@MarkPlotkin-df8cn]

I met cal in 05 i drove down there from Riverside he was a nice man❤😊

[@queenbluntressspeaks2695]

Worthington ford gave my uncle a mustang first mistake. But that car got my uncle to work. Nobody else would give him a car. That mustang was being driven by my mother after going thru domestic violence. My uncle let her borrow it to take care of us. That car was in our family being passed around to whoever needed it. I can’t for left Cal he made sure my family could get groceries from The store every body was denying my uncle. I remember he was crying because he was going to loose his job. His job was in Orange County and we lived in Riverside county and it was no buses back then except greyhound that went there from Riverside county. I can’t forget it because I used to ride with my aunt to pick him up because she would have to take my grandmother to the doctor. When I say that car served our entire family it truly did. ❤

[@jayk5549]

I live in Vancouver Canada. Used to get those commercials here when I was growing up. Part of the Sound track of our youth

[@wheelchair_dude]

I was in Alaska in the 80's and remember his commercial they were great to watch and his dog spot is in my head such a great memory..... thanks Kal God bless

[@wildecoyoty4668]

49 and reside on the island of UPOLU SAMOA now. But man as a child this song we grew up with and chanted around the house all the time! GOODBYE AND SO LONG CAL! Grew up in Gardena CA..

[@stevenwinterhill3623]

Gonna miss those commercials on TV Saturday mornings 😊

[@jeraldb2868]

I grew up in the SF Bay Area (NorCal). He had a dealership in Santa Clara and I fondly remember his commercials as a kid. I live in SoCal now. Truly an end of an era. Wish the best to Worthington family

[@alexpacheco7074]

I did too. Now I live in Reno NV.

[@YCNSD]

I can remember when Cal came to Sacramento. On the corner of Franklin and Florin Rd. 🗣️ "I'll Stand on my head until my ears turn red go see cal go see cal"

[@empressheather5999]

The commercials were on in even for years. 15 years ago I would watch them. Cal and the tiger were my fav of his ads.

[@davidstark5591]

Love this KZbin video! My father was in the Navy stationed at Miramar in the mid 70’s I was twelve or thirteen years old. I love Cal’s commercials to this day

[@krayzeejojo]

Still remember often irritating my family by singing the jingle (some times up to an hour) after watching the ads. Now that it’s stuck in my head again, time to make some phone calls. Also, hope they at least kept Cal’s showroom mural on display.

[@jamesr2888]

I ended up with a used '89 Mustang I still have that was sold from Worthington Ford.

[@charlie-zc6bj]

Seeing his commercial brings back memories of growing up in L.A. I remember watching the commercial come on at all hours of the day, night, and midnights on weekends

[@bigpookie1122]

LEGEND

[@barnettfloyd]

The commercials are something I love and miss. Growing up in Los Angeles, I heard his commercials every Saturday. I used to think the words to his song were: 'Pu**y cal, Pu**y cal'. I later learned it was. Go see Cal, go see Cal. It's sad that his relatives can't keep his dream alive.

[@maxpower9728]

I thought it was just me that heard the lyrics like that! Pussycal! 😸

[@larryellisreed280]

Clearly an exercise in mondegreen, as you illustrated the early memories of the Cal Worthington jingle.

[@jimveybe7689]

Went to school with his daughter Courtney in the 80s. Was a very nice man whose work ethic could be classroom material today in this current generation of low motivation.

[@juanjackson1005]

Sad.That man made alot of people happy with his commercials.I was one of them

[@robert2628]

"get a new car for wife she will love you all your life - Go See Cal - Go See Cal - Go See Cal " !

[@boundariessetinstone5893]

Best wishes to his family may he rest in peace and thank you Cal for your service a great all American man. 🙏🏼🇺🇸

[@ChosenOne6666]

Jim Varney aka Ernest T Bass was one of the salespeople.

[@hoodmistressreloaded]

I remember him doing the old Cerritos Auto Square commercials back then too

[@ChosenOne6666]

@@hoodmistressreloaded Hey Vern!!!

[@hoodmistressreloaded]

@@ChosenOne6666 Know what I mean???

[@ChosenOne6666]

@@hoodmistressreloaded He is LEGEND

[@revelationdetailers894]

I have heard Cal's named mentioned on the old Matchgame series several times, so I decided to look it up! What great showmanship and sales ability!

[@billkipper3264]

The first time I ever saw a Cal Worthington commercial it was on a TV in the background of a movie I was watching. It got my attention but I thought it was just something they made up to put in the movie. Then a few years later I moved to Anchorage, AK and was watching TV and one of his ads came on. I was blown away. They were actually real commercials! Go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal!

[@jpjp9111]

I saw these ads in Alaska when I was a kid.

[@Thor_Odinson]

Visited relatives in SoCal a lot as a kid and those commercials were the bomb. Seem to recall he was riding a hippo in one.....

[@ChiefsGirlSince1989]

So cal girl i remember the commercials

[@memukanofpersiaandmedia2668]

After 9 pm, every commercial was a Cal Worthington.....as a kid from Florida, it got old quick.

[@BrittneyCooper-yb3td]

Cal is shaking his head in disgust.

[@GeorgeVreelandHill]

If Rin Tin Tin can have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, then Cal should have one too. He was a part of our lives even if you didn't buy a Worthington car.

[@DanielOrtegoUSA]

I remember those commercials; they were quite entertaining. It’s kind of sad to hear that he’s no longer in business because it chips away at my own youth. 😢

[@user-vv2wd9vm4l]

Kids must be pissing away the old family fortune 😂

[@Americafirst-i8q]

No the family realized that California is no longer like it used to be when I was growing up as a kid, where things were much better and simpler so they decided to take a hike

[@VoteForBukele]

@@Americafirst-i8q translated: they pissed away daddy’s money.

[@VoteForBukele]

@@Runco990 dude had dealerships across multiple states. His kids weren’t as good a businessman as daddy and the empire crumbled. It’s not a knock. It happens all the time. Especially when mediocre men cosplay as great men. Complain about California all you want. But the millions of people who manage to make a living just prove that you’re an underachiever. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. But you should be used to the taste, son.

[@DonOsborne-if7vi]

Family businesses are a thing of the past

[@nealxl6256]

I like the Cal Worthington commercial with Snoop in it, but I can’t find it anywhere

[@originalmamagrizzly2478]

Cal Worthington and his dog Spot! Lol!! 😁

[@larryellisreed280]

Who could picture as Cal's Dog Spot in one such commercial--BLOOP THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN TROLL, being rather hilarious all along?

[@PNOYPWR]

I went there to buy a Ford van and they are full of shit. The finance officer is the worst I encountered. I just went out and walked straight to my car and he kept on following and saying "Please, come back".

[@eyeseer1]

Cal Worthington lived up to his name in worth and could sell with no equal. Salutes to the end of a legacy.

[@hookeye2]

Cal lived in the Sierras near Nevada City. He was a photographer. I met him several times when he'd bring his stuff in to be processed and printed at the old Black& White Photo Lab in Sacramento...

[@mirnacollins6514]

This car dealership is no longer around and neither is the man. He hit the road back in the late 90's " said hasta la vista, baby!!

[@EyeSmiteThee]

So this is where the idea for the movie “Made In America” came from 😂😂😂

[@kimmergonzales9792]

Jim Varney got his start by doing Worthington commercials in Sacramento, CA. Hey Vern!!

[@392nightrunner]

Always thought it was "Go see Cow, Cow Worthington and his cow spot"

[@boodle4960]

A rich businessman man in the Golden Age of California. That guy must have had the best life

[@murkyjoker02]

Poor guy left his child in fostercare

[@ericknoblauch9195]

Many family owned dealerships are being replaced by corporate owned dealerships. When you used to meet the family owner now you meet some corporate manager who has a title and runs the dealership. Corporate owned dealers buy in larger quantities wholesale for multiple locations, and get a better price than a family owned dealership. Now family owned dealerships are facing the upcoming electrification requirements, and have to invest large sums of money in their service departments for the equipment, and training needed for the upcoming electric car requirements. One dealership near me let the manufacturer buy out their franchise because the electric requirements will cost $200,000. They still service gas models, but if you want any service for electric vehicles all they will do is put air in the tires. Another dealership that was close by was family owned, and closed after 45 years. The owner there made no attempt to sell the franchise, and the manufacturer just pulled it.

[@thomascollins4325]

Sounded like a genuine character.

[@gilavalos2400]

Bet cal would have regretted giving his grandson control of his empire if he knew thsi was going to happen.

[@anandguruji83]

End of an Era: Worthington family sells its last car dealership

[@anandguruji83]

End of an Era: Worthington family sells its last car dealership

[@yomomma2054]

Tacoma, WA

[@leoisais9788]

"Don't get mad at me, my goodness. I'm not a Chevrolet dealer" 🤣🤣

[@yota20ret]

Fords not built tough anymore, the end of an era 😂😂

[@elru2276]

Go see Cal!

[@ChiefsGirlSince1989]

😢

[@midnightsun2483]

He was in anchorage Alaska also

[@douglasmcclure9492]

I was from anch used to watch cal

[@mariecasares2149]

😄 I remember that

[@jessejuliano5336]

'Go on take the money and run'

[@nealjohnson1461]

Growing up in so cal 2 car dealers were really all you saw or heard of on TV. Ralph Williams and Cal Worthington. Never bought a car from Ralph but did from cal at that LB ford dealership. My first experience with what crooks car dealers are the first time I had to hold my Father back from punching someone(cal worthington salesman). One think we learned from both Ralph and Cal was what bait and switch is all about

[@crosslink1493]

My dad was an accountant and did the taxes for Pete Ellis' dealerships, another popular string of family-owned dealerships in the Los Angeles area. My dad got 'invoice priced' cars from him, usually last years models that didn't sell. Ford, Dodge, Chevy, and 2 AMC dealerships IIRC. Last I heard Pete opened a used car dealership with low-mileage cars in Costa Mesa, it lasted about two years. He also had ads on TV.

[@mattreynolds4035]

Go see Cal go see Cal and his dog spot 🐅

[@JoJo-cy4tb]

it sems everything we loved about CA is coiming to an end that inclued our high standard of living and quality of life. i guess thats progress tho, thanks progressives

[@dangiven2686]

Grandparents build it, the children enjoy it, the grandchildren ruin it. Shame, shame.

[@davestark2015]

I'm from British Columbia Canada andi also grew up with his commercials they came from Seattle. To bad seems wrong to have sold them all

[@badbiker666]

If I were able to buy something like a dealership with such an established name, you're damn straight I would keep that name on the building. I wonder if changing the name was required as a part of the contract for the sale. Perhaps the Worthington family didn't want their name attached to anything they, themselves, weren't operating. If that's so, I understand, but I would have fought like hell during negotiations for the right to keep that name on the building.

[@PML4USA]

Not surprised it is being sold.Always after there death the family's always sell everything.

[@DailyDriverGarage]

HE GOT A FEW MILLION FROM GRANDPA DYING... HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BUT GO ON VACATIONS THE REST OF HIS LIFE... I KNOW I WOULDN'T WORK EITHER IF MILLIONS WERE HANDED TO ME ON A SILVER PLATTER... BUT I WOULD ATLEAST MAKE SURE MY GRANDKIDS WERE SET

[@thepeterchannel3230]

they ripped me off. His family owes me a car and $30,000.

[@gypsy1962]

Cal was a bad dude. 😊

[@rconger24]

I remember early on it was CW *DODGE* .

[@crosslink1493]

He had a few dealerships. The Ford one in Long Beach was the last one remaining.

[@JamesWoods-yu2kf]

When was it ever a Dodge dealership?? I was born and raised off Bellflower and Willow and am nearly 60 and it was always Ford..

[@Somewondude]

Its tough for dealerships these days.

[@douglaskaiser9933]

Was this Cal Worthington's business?

[@rbrauto1]

and now the grand kid's have all the family money

[@beyondseeker7250]

Siempre pasa eso, los abuelos y padres construyen algo, y sus herederos solo lo venden porque todo lo que quieren es el dinero para gastarlo a su manera. Una lastima que este hombre hizo su fortuna y sus herederos no aprecian y solo lo venden.

[@jamesbarlow8879]

I guarantee Cal is rolling over in his grave right now knowing that his kids/grandkids sold his stores.

[@DanielEDugger]

Spot was not Cals Dog!??😮, I feel so abused 😂😊❤

[@luklopskywalk]

Sad.

[@ajgrant6172]

Public criminal #1

[@mnm2007]

Family members should pull up there so called boot straps instead of living off a family members past ! , make your own life ! Inheritance should be illegal!

[@Americafirst-i8q]

Businesses should pack up and move out of California

[@VoteForBukele]

Neither of your parents should have survived childhood. You were the best they could do 😂

[@douglasmcclure9492]

Who do they leave their cash to nobody let the state have it

[@RickyWatter32]

Sad af

[@erbeypineda4127]

Gentrification!

[@anandguruji83]

FAREWELL WORTHINGTON FORD IN LONG BEACH 1953-2023

[@anandguruji83]

FAREWELL WORTHINGTON FORD IN LONG BEACH 1953-2023

[@loualfred5219]

The king of the RipOff car dealers. I was never a victim but it well known that if you bought a car from them you overpaid. Well, that’s the sucker buyers fault. Nothing to praise. What the commercials. What a joke Adios Cal Not worthyTon

[@davidcarruthers5850]

Good bye Cal, grew up with you..... hmmm, I am thinking Heaven needs a car guy ...🥲 Thank you for good mems.....